Sua Strains Groin Muscle, Takes Day Off

TRACK AND FIELD

CORAL GABLES - — Seilala Sua took a practice throw, felt a twinge in her left leg and decided to play it safe.

The St. Thomas senior scratched from Sunday's shot put and discus competition at the Junior Pan American Games Tune-up Meet at University of Miami's Greentree Track.

Sua, 17, was treated by a USA Track and Field trainer for a slightly strained left groin muscle.

"It just started today right when I did my one lap warmup and started to stretch and do jumping drills," Sua said. "When I started my practice runs it was really hurting. It's the first time anything like this has happened."

Despite the injury, she is to leave today with the U.S. team for the Junior

Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, Sept. 1-3.

"I'll be ready for next week. I'm excited for that and can't wait," Sua said. "I know my body, and I know I'll be mentally prepared for this meet."

It is the Olympic hopeful's biggest international meet. She will be joined by the nation's best juniors, many of whom competed in the rain-delayed six-hour track meet.

The University of Miami's Yolanda McCray and Braxton Cosby are the only other South Florida members of the team. McCray was second in the 100-meter high hurdles in 14.02. Cosby was second in the 110-meter high hurdles in 14.56. Like Sua, they are Pan Am favorites.

The meet features the best from Cuba, the Caribbean and South America and is for Sua another steppingstone toward an Olympic dream that started in middle school.

"It's great to be in this kind of winning atmosphere," she said. "We're all on the same thinking level and we all know what we really want.

"I'm allowing myself to think about the Olympics and the trials in June. If I throw against really good people, it will make me think and help me to improve. I am getting really close to the competition. I just need more experience."